This awesome periodic table shows us how we actually use all those elements

The periodic table may excite some terrifying others. But this unique take on the table from a Seattle-based designer looks like fun for everyone, its fun design and interactive features showing us exactly how we use all of those chemical elements.

Present the periodic table without warning to a room full of people and the reactions are likely to be diverse.

There’ll be those whose faces break instantly into expressions of warm recognition, with some perhaps feeling compelled to point out favorites while chuckling fondly as they share related personal stories that spring to mind.

On the other side, however, you might have several individuals breaking into a cold sweat at once again being forced to confront the chart – that chart – that served only to bamboozle their brain while at school. Others might experience the return of a facial tick they thought long gone. A few may even run for the door.

It’s perhaps the latter group who Keith Enevoldsen had in mind when he set about creating his own unique take on the table, bringing it to life in a fun and accessible way that’s likely to entertain everyone from experts to newcomers to those who’d long since buried it deep in their subconscious.

Offering the table “in pictures and words,” Enevoldsen’s engaging chart is a great way to refresh your mind as to the meaning of all those abbreviations, or simply an enjoyable way to test your existing knowledge.

Best of all, it’s interactive. Hover over any of the elements and you’ll be presented with an explanation of its classification and, interestingly, examples of how it’s used in the real world.

For example, “Ta” stands for “Tantalum,” with this particular transition metal described as a “high-melting-point, non-corroding metal” that’s used for items such as surgical tools, artificial joints, capacitors, and mobile phones. Americium (Am), on the other hand, is used in smoke detectors, while niobium (Nb) is used for maglev trains.

So, fancy exploring the wonderful world of chemical elements via Enevoldsen’s unique chart? You can check it out here.